TRAINING CURRICULUM

1.1 Introduction

Welcome to a new and exciting journey in the world of technology, innovation, and creativity! Through ICT Club, you’ll learn how to create your own mobile or web application to solve real problems in your community — and prepare for competitions where your ideas and skills will shine!

1.2 Problem-Solving in Your Community

In this phase, you’re not building an app yet — you’re doing something even more important: finding the right problem to solve.

This is called ideation — the process of coming up with creative ideas. It’s not always easy, but it’s the foundation of your entire project!

1.3. Technology & Solutions

In this enriching session, you will:

Unlock the Power of Your Mobile: Discover and master the hidden features of your mobile phone, transforming it into a dynamic problem-solving tool.

Navigate the App Landscape: Clearly distinguish between mobile applications and web applications, understanding their unique functionalities and applications.

Explore the Realm of Artificial Intelligence: Delve into the fascinating world of AI, learning how it empowers individuals to tackle complex challenges with innovative solutions.

1.4. Exploring Mobile App Builders.

In this practical session, you will:

Explore the World of App Creation: Discover diverse app builders and programming languages, unlocking the potential to bring your digital ideas to life.

Start Building Your Own Mobile App: Get hands-on guidance to set up and confidently begin creating a mobile app using an intuitive app builder.

1.5 Exploring Web App Builders

In this session, you will:

Demystify Web Apps: Understand the core differences between web apps and mobile apps, and their relevance in our digital landscape.

Explore Web App Development: Discover various coding languages and tools used to create dynamic web applications.

Get Your Tools Ready: Install and configure the essential software to begin building your own web apps.

1.6 Understanding Algorithms

In this lesson, you will:

Find out what an algorithm is (it’s like a set of instructions or rules!).

Practice making your own algorithm (your own set of steps!).

Get ready to learn how to give clear instructions!

2.1 Researching Problems

Dear learner, in this lesson, you will:

Think about different problems in the world (or in our community!) that you might want to help fix.

Find out more information about the problems that seem interesting to you.

Start thinking about which problem you might choose to work on for your project.

2.2 Selecting a Problem

Dear learner, in this lesson, you will:

Choose the one problem your team will work together to solve.

Learn what a ‘problem statement’ is (it’s a short, clear way to explain exactly what the problem is!).

Write a ‘problem statement’ for the problem your team chooses.

2.3 All About AI

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

At its core, AI is about creating computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes things like:

• Learning: Acquiring information and rules for using it.
• Reasoning: Using those rules to draw conclusions.
• Problem-solving: Finding solutions to issues.
• Perception: Understanding sensory input (like seeing or hearing).
• Language understanding: Processing and interpreting human language.

2.4 App Inventor: Closer Look

This lesson introduces you to MIT App Inventor, a platform that makes it easy to create mobile apps. Unlike traditional programming where code runs in a fixed order, App Inventor uses event-driven programming.

Event-Driven Programming

Think of it like this: Events: These are actions that users take, like:

• Clicking a button
• Touching the screen
• Typing something

Instead of the app running code from top to bottom, it waits for these events to happen.

When an event occurs, it triggers a specific set of instructions to run.

2.5 Understanding Thunkable

This lesson introduces you to Thunkable, a platform similar to MIT App Inventor, which simplifies mobile app creation. Like App Inventor, Thunkable uses event-driven programming.

2.6 Web Apps: Diving In

Welcome to the exciting world of web app development!

In this lesson, we’re going to dive into creating interactive web applications using Python and a fantastic tool called Streamlit. Think of this as stepping into a workshop where you can build your own digital creations.

3.1 Identifying Solutions

Dear learner, let us break down this lesson on “Identifying Solutions” for your Innovation project.

This section is all about turning the problems you have identified into actionable, technology-driven solutions.

3.2 Market Research

Have you ever had a fantastic idea for an app or a digital product? Before you jump into creating it, there’s something very important you should do first—Market Research!

What is Market Research? Market research involves collecting and analyzing information about:

• Your Target Market: Who are your potential users or customers?
• Competitors: Who else offers similar products or solutions?

3.3 Business and Mission Statements

Muzukuke! Great to see you all. Last time we dug deep into understanding who your app is for with market research.

Now, we’re taking the next big step in shaping your project for the competition: defining what kind of business your brilliant idea will be and crafting its Mission Statement.

3.4 App Inventor: Coding Conditionals

We’ve talked about understanding your users and setting up your business structure. Now, let’s get back into the exciting part – the actual coding with MIT App Inventor!

Today, we’re learning about something fundamental, something that makes your apps smart: Conditionals.

Think about it: apps don’t just do the same thing every single time, right? They react! They respond to what you do, or what’s happening inside the app. Conditionals are how we give our apps the power to make decisions.

3.5 Thunkable: Coding Conditionals

We are jumping into a core coding skill, this time specifically for those of you using Thunkable to build your amazing apps.

Just like we discussed for App Inventor, our apps need to be smart!

They need to make decisions based on what the user does or what’s happening in the app. The way we give apps this intelligence in Thunkable is by using

3.6 Find Patterns with AI

It’s a great time to explore something really cutting-edge: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and specifically, how we can teach computers to find patterns, just like humans do, but much faster!

You’ve learned how to make apps respond with conditionals. Now, imagine making your app recognize things – like pictures, sounds, or even poses! That’s where AI, particularly Machine Learning (ML), comes in.

4.1 Minimum Viable Product

We’ve covered a lot – understanding your users, planning your business approach, coding basics, and even AI. Now, you’re probably super excited to start building all the amazing features you’ve imagined for your app, right?

Hold on! Linda ko! Before you dive deep into coding everything, let’s talk about a smarter way to start, especially with the Technovation deadlines in mind. It’s called building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

4.2 Different Components in Thunkable

It’s the perfect quiet time to explore the amazing tools hidden inside Thunkable!

You’ve planned your Minimum Viable Product (MVP), focusing on the core features. Now, let’s look at the special building blocks, called Components, that Thunkable offers to bring those features to life.

Think of Thunkable not just having basic buttons and labels, but a whole toolbox full of advanced gadgets!

4.3 Different Components in App Inventor

Now that you’ve planned your Minimum Viable Product (MVP), it’s time to think about the specific tools within MIT App Inventor that will help you build it.

App Inventor is more than just buttons and labels! It has a whole collection of powerful Components, including Sensors, that let your app interact with the phone’s features and the world around it. Let’s explore this toolbox!

4.4 Debugging your Code in Thunkable

As you dive deeper into coding your apps in Thunkable, you’ll inevitably encounter something every single coder experiences: bugs!

Don’t worry, a bug doesn’t mean you’re a bad coder. It just means something in your instructions isn’t working exactly as planned. Today, we’ll learn about Debugging – the essential skill of finding and fixing these bugs.

4.5 AI: Datasets

We’ve talked about training AI models, but where does the “learning” material come from? Today, we focus on the absolute foundation of any AI model: the Dataset.

Think of the dataset as the textbook, the examples, and the experiences you provide to your AI student. If the textbook is poor or biased, the student won’t learn well!

4.6 Debugging your code in App Inventor

As you’re busy building your apps with MIT App Inventor, you’ll definitely run into moments where things don’t quite work as expected.

This is totally normal! We call these errors “bugs,” and the process of finding and fixing them is called Debugging.

Let’s learn some tips and tricks for debugging specifically in App Inventor. Mastering this skill will save you a lot of time and frustration!

5.1 Paper Prototypes

You’ve defined your Minimum Viable Product (MVP), focusing on the core features of your app idea.

Before you jump into coding those features in Thunkable or App Inventor, there’s a crucial, fun, and incredibly useful step: Paper Prototyping.

Think of it as creating the first rough sketch or blueprint of your app using simple paper and pens.

It’s a fast, cheap, and powerful way to visualize your ideas and get feedback early!

5.2 Partnering with Organizations

You’ve defined your MVP and even visualized it with paper prototypes. That’s fantastic progress! Now, let’s think outwards. Solving big problems is rarely done alone.

Could collaborating with others – forming Partnerships – help your Technovation project succeed and make a bigger impact?

5.3 Planning Your Project

You’ve made incredible progress thinking through your app idea, your users, your MVP, and even potential partners.

Now it’s time to get organized for the busy weeks ahead: let’s talk about Planning Your Project to ensure you reach the finish line successfully for the ICT Club submission!

Think of this phase as planning a journey from Jinja to Kampala. You know your destination (a finished project), but you need a map and a schedule to make sure you get there efficiently and without getting lost.

5.4 Variables and Lists in Thunkable

In this lesson, you will learn how to use variables to store data within an app

Learn how to organize data into lists

Use variables and lists in an app

5.5 Variables and Lists in App Inventor

In this lesson, you will learn how to use variables to store data within an app

Learn how to organize data into lists

Use variables and lists in an app

5.6 AI: Train your Model

It is time to move from planning your AI dataset to actually using it. Today, we’re focusing on the exciting step of Training Your AI Model!

This is where you take the data you’ve carefully planned and gathered, and use an online tool to teach the computer how to recognize the patterns within it.

5.7 Web Apps Using AI Models

Today’s lesson, Web Apps Using AI Models, dives into a more advanced way of building and using AI, specifically for teams comfortable with Python programming and Jupyter Notebooks.

6.1 Marketing your Product

You are deep into building your amazing ICT Club apps! But remember, creating a fantastic product is just the first step.

If the people you want to help don’t know your app exists or don’t understand its value, your hard work won’t have the impact it deserves.

This is where Marketing comes in. Let’s learn how to spread the word about your app and create a plan for it – a key part of your ICT Club Business Plan!

6.1 Calculating Revenue

We’ve discussed how to market your app and get people interested. Now, let’s talk about the crucial aspect of money: How will your app generate Revenue to support itself?

Thinking about revenue is essential, even for social impact projects, because every app has costs to keep running (like internet, maybe server fees, and future updates).

6.2 Positive Impact

You’re all becoming powerful creators of technology, learning to build apps and even use Artificial Intelligence to solve problems in our communities. This ability to create is amazing, but it also comes with a big responsibility.

Today, we need to pause and think critically about the Ethics of the technology you are building. It’s not just about making an app that works, but making sure your app is good, fair, and truly helpful without causing unintended harm.

6.3 App Examples using Thunkable

You have done amazing work planning your MVP, maybe sketching prototypes, thinking about partners, and even planning your marketing and revenue. Now comes the really exciting (and sometimes challenging) part: building your app in Thunkable!

You might have already started coding, or perhaps you’re looking at your plans and wondering, “Okay, how do I make a login screen work?” or “How do I show locations on a map in Thunkable?”

6.4 App Examples using App Inventor

In this Lesson, you will experiment with app examples that align with your solution idea

7.1AI: Software Options

You’ve journeyed through planning your AI, carefully crafting your datasets, and even training your AI model using platforms like Teachable Machine or others.

That’s fantastic! But a trained model sitting on a website isn’t very useful on its own.

The next exciting step is to integrate your AI model into your actual application (likely in App Inventor or Thunkable) so it can start making predictions and taking actions in the real world!

7.2 Storing Data in Thunkable

As you build your Thunkable apps, you’ll quickly realize that most apps need to remember information. Where do you save a user’s high score? Or their settings? Or a list of information that everyone using the app needs to see?

This is where Data Storage comes in. Today, we’ll explore the different ways you can store data in your Thunkable apps, focusing on two main approaches: storing data locally (right on the user’s phone) and storing data in the Cloud (online). Choosing the right method is important for how your app works!

7.3 Storing Data in App Inventor

In this lesson, you will …

Learn how to store data on a mobile device to access from a mobile app
Learn of different options for storing and accessing data in the cloud to share data between app users

7.4 Operating Costs

Last time, we looked at the Revenue side – how your app might generate income or funding. Today, we need to look at the other side of the coin: the Costs.

To understand if your project can be sustainable, you need to estimate how much money it will take to run it.

This involves understanding Operating Costs and, ultimately, calculating your projected Profit. This is the final piece of your financial puzzle for the Technovation Business Plan!

8.1 Business Plan

You have journeyed through so many stages of bringing your tech idea to life – identifying a problem, understanding users, planning your app (MVP), thinking about marketing, finances, maybe even building prototypes and training AI models!

Now it’s time to bring all of that incredible work together into one important document: the Business Plan.

8.2 Coding APIs with Thunkable

As you build more sophisticated apps in Thunkable, you might want them to do things like fetch live weather information, get the latest news headlines, translate text, or connect to other online services.

How do apps get this external information? Often, they use something called an API.

Today, we’ll learn what APIs are and how you can use them in your Thunkable projects to make your apps more powerful and connected!

Recording Videos

You’ve done the essential planning – the outlines, storyboards, and scripts for your Pitch and Technical videos. Now it’s time for the action: the Production phase, where you actually Record the video footage!

Using your plans as a guide, let’s talk about how to capture the best possible footage using the resources you have available.

Module 11: Learning Journey

You have reached one of the final, and perhaps most meaningful, parts of your ICT Club project preparation: reflecting on and sharing your Learning Journey.

This isn’t just about your final app; it’s about the entire process you’ve gone through together as a team since you started.

The judges want to hear your story – the challenges you faced, the skills you learned, how your ideas changed, and how you grew. It’s your chance to showcase the incredible journey you’ve been on!

Module 12: Submitting your Project

You have reached the final stage of this incredible ICT Club journey: Submitting Your Project!

All the hard work – the brainstorming, research, coding, prototyping, planning, filming – culminates in this moment. You have created something amazing, and now it’s time to share it with the world through the official submission. Let’s walk through the final steps together.